SHEPHERDING FOR GREATER EVANGELISM

by Roger Shepherd

The most significant work in the world is being a shepherd of the Lord’s church! Paul said, “it is a fine (good, honorable) work,” one who “aspires” to be an “overseer” of God’s people (1 Tim. 3:1). I have worked forty–nine years with young men who aspire to be preachers and shepherds. The idea they express in the type of leadership desired in the 21st Century is participatory shepherding, so they can take part in decisions. Shepherding transforms the people of God into servants.

I asked this question, “What is an elder?” and received the following:

• A man who leads and directs God’s work. He is out front or the head of a team.
• A man who has a following; without a following he is only taking a walk.
• A man guiding or directing the service of Christians to others.
• A principal player of an organization or team. He is an example of teamwork.
• A person of determination and action.
• A person with goals, visions, and a mission.
• One who trains others to take his place.
• He is a loving shepherd to cares for the flock of God.

How are these men developed today?

SHEPHERDING LEADERSHIP

Shepherds are “pastors” who oversee the spiritual work and character of the church (Eph. 4:11). Jesus is the “good shepherd;” that is a metaphor taken from one who was a literal “sheep-herder” (John 10:2, 11). This is the biblical imagery of a human leader who pastors, superintends, oversees, and teaches the pupils in the church (BDAG, 843). The most desirable attribute for a church leader today is that of a shepherd, not a desire to be a manager. Christians desire spiritual leaders, thus, shepherding to develop spiritual maturity, not one who desires the ability to achieve power or a position. Those who work toward a position, rank, or title upon arrival only think they have become a shepherd. They experience the frustration of a few followers and never develop their leadership skills. A shepherd is not a church boss or hierarchy. A shepherd provides a service and this takes skill, personality, character, and servanthood to be effective. The evangelistic church develops spiritual men beginning early in life to be shepherds.

In my experience of ministry and training young men, the church has a lack of shepherds for two reasons. First, very few men “desire” the work of a shepherd (1Tim. 3:1). A shepherd earnestly aspires to do the work from an inward impulse (heart or spirit) rather than the glory of an outward object (honor of men or position); therefore, the man who has his heart right with God will desire to work as a spiritual shepherd (BDAG, 371). For example, Paul wrote: “You who are spiritual restore such a one (fallen Christian) in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1). Second, the church has not developed men regarding quality of character and ability to do the work (1 Tim. 3:2–7), such as ministry and evangelism (Eph. 4:11–12).

In respect to shepherding, a leader will develop at least the following qualities:

1. able to shepherd, feed, or take care of the church;
2. able to teach;
3. able to delegate the care of others to be managed by deacons and other leaders;
4. watch to protect the sheep, especially when they stray from the flock, because a literal shepherd watched the sheep day and night (1 Pet. 5:1–4; Heb. 4:13).

The sheep know the voice of a true shepherd and follows him to the true spiritual pasture (John 10:1–11). True shepherds lead the sheep to eternal life.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

The challenge is developing shepherding as valid in seeking to reach contemporary society with servant ministry and participatory shepherding. Shepherds are challenged to sacrifice values for power and expediency. Hierarchy empowers leaders to ignore the needs and expediency of people for dominion. For example, leadership is seen in the contemporary concepts of pastoral care, pastoral counseling, and Christian psychology. In the church it is seen as the “head elder” philosophy that is a “Do as I say, not as I do” leadership. This idea is as old as ancient Egypt, Babylon, and Persia that was later used in the Greek and Roman culture where it was perfected. “The social world into which Christianity spread was governed by a single ruler—the Roman Emperor. Soon after Constantine took the throne in the early fourth century, the church became a full-fledged, top-down, hierarchically organized society” (Frank Viola and George Barna, Pagan Christianity?, 118, 134). Therefore, God gave the church “pastors” or shepherds (1 Pet. 5:2–4) who lead under the Chief Shepherd with the servant attitude of Jesus that is for the evangelistic church.

Jesus was a servant who shepherded the people of God (Matt. 20:28; John 10:10). Matthew’s word “serve,” in reference for Jesus, means to serve another’s spiritual interests. The greatest necessity of people is salvation (John 10:9). Shepherds serve the gospel to the church and community that some might be saved. Jesus was different from the hierarchy of Rome, with a mission to serve the immediate needs of others, to function as an intermediary, act as a go-between/agent, and to be at one’s service, rendering assistance as his foremost ministry (BDAG, 229).

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Transformation is not a common word in the vocabulary of most Christians today. Jesus challenged his disciples to stay young in their thinking, to accept truth with audacious minds, and to march toward a transformational style of leadership, building on the strengths of others. Shepherds raise the awareness of organizational goals and consequences of not reaching these goals. Shepherds empower disciples to transcend their own self-interest for the interest of others (Phil 2:4).

The church in contemporary society is challenged with transformational change that in biblical terms indicates a change in directions, change inwardly in fundamental character, thus, Christians progressively take on the perfection of Jesus through the Spirit’s direction (BDAG, 639–40). Paul used this term to mean a physical change by the renewing of the believer’s attitude and service to others, especially teaching and leadership (Rom. 12:1–8). Successful shepherds realize when they encounter a problem along the way, they change their direction, but not their destination. Believers that can change their thoughts can change the world to survive, and periodically change to meet the challenges of a changing community. Christians within the church will also change beginning with shepherding.

CONCLUSION

Hierarchal leadership lives on in the contemporary world today, but Christians desire godly shepherding. They want to know how much the shepherds care before knowing how much they know. Christians desire to be heard and to express their ideas and knowledge of a particular ministry. Remember, Christians support what they help create. When these opportunities are granted, they will produce their best in evangelism and keeping the saved. Followers are led to think and do what is right, having their needs met; this begins with transforming them spiritually. God taught participatory, servant, and transformational leadership to Moses, and he led Israel to great success (Exodus 18). The church is a better place to minister with a biblical model of leadership. Evangelistic shepherds will know the lost community and the church while serving their greatest spiritual needs and developing their ministry skills. Christians today are not so much wary of church as they are cautious of churches that do not practice the Bible. The contemporary church will be biblically organized and structured operating with spiritually gifted shepherds who rely heavily on ministries that emphasize relationships. True shepherds emphasize genuineness, holistic worship, service, knowledge, relationships, and teaching, while having a great respect for the early traditions without going beyond the teaching of Christ.